What is a chinchilla?
A chinchilla is a small, intelligent rodent (similar in size to a ground squirrel) with very soft, dense fur. They have large, expressive eyes, a bushy tail and an inquisitive nature. They are active, curious and acrobatic creatures that can be very friendly if given plenty of attention while they are young. They are fascinating, adorable and comical little animals with a wide range of unique personalities.
From where do chinchillas originate?
Chinchillas originate from the Andes Mountains of South America and live at altitudes as high as 16500 feet. They make their homes in in the rocky crevices and caves. Their natural habitat has very little water or moisture at all, and they drink the morning dew to quench their thirst. For the same reason, their coats lack the heavy amount of natural oils found in the furs of most mammals; if they get wet, it can take a long time to naturally dry and are quite susceptible to pneumonia.
Why choose a chinchilla as a pet?
Chinchillas can make wonderful pets for certain people, but may not be suited to others. So is a chinchilla right for you? Here are some things to consider:
| TRAIT | PRO | CON |
| Chinchillas live about 20 years with proper care. | They can make lifelong companions for loving owners. | Owning a chinchilla is a long term commitment. |
| Chinchillas are crepuscular (active most at dawn and dusk). | They are awake in mornings and evenings when many people have free time. | Though not noisy vocally, chinchillas can be actively jumping and chewing when people are trying to get to sleep. |
| Chinchillas sleep during the day and require muted noise. | For people out most of the day, this works out well. | For people with active daytime households, a chinchilla can become irritable or stressed from lack of sleep, unless they have a quiet space away from the daytime bustle. |
| Chinchillas are gentle creatures with little ability for defense. | They are gentle and friendly pets if they have been raised with plenty of attention. | Chinchillas can be easily harmed; they shouldn't be handled by young children and can be injured or killed by other pets that are aggressive, predatory or play too rough. (That being said I know people whose cats and dogs get along wonderfully with their chinchillas. It really depends on the animal.) |
| Chinchillas are small mammals that live in pens. | They make suitable pets for apartments and condos, as they don't require a yard. Moving or travelling is much easier with a chinchilla than with larger pets. | Chinchillas shouldn't run loose unattended in spaces that aren't intended as playareas for them. They could chew on wires, plastic, plants, drywall and many other materials that are dangerous to them, as well the chewing could damage a person's possesions and home. A play area should be "chew-safe". |
| Chinchillas are quite clean animals. | They keep themselves clean by bathing in dust and have almost no odour. Even their urine has a very mild smell, more a kin to wood or nut in scent. Many people with animal hair allergies have no reaction to chinchillas. | The dust they bathe in gets disbursed into the air, so chinchillas are not suitable pets for people with dust allergies. |
What should you look for when getting a chinchilla?
It is always best to buy a chinchilla from a breeder instead of pet store. A breeder will be familiar with chinchillas in general as well as the particular chinchilla you may be interested in purchasing (the disposition, health and genetics of a chinchilla as well as that of its ancestory); they can provide you with all the information you need.
Most pet stores do not specialize in exotic mammals and, because of this, many provide misinformation about chinchillas and chinchilla care. Most pet stores would have difficulty recognizing health concerns in chinchillas (other than the obvious ones), and most have difficulty recognising the difference between chinchilla genders at a young age. Most pet stores that I have seen carrying chinchillas keep them in improper environments and do not provide proper care.
Most ranchers (people who breed and raise chinchillas for the furring industry) are very knowledgable about chinchillas and chinchilla care, but most ranch-raised chinchilla receive little socialization while they are young and, therefore, do not have a good dispostion for a pet (typically they are skittish, nervous or irritable with people).
If you do purchase a chinchilla from a pet store or source other than a breeder, I encourage you to research chinchilla care on your own before hand to ensure that your new little fluffball will have a long, happy and healthy life.
Most pet stores do not specialize in exotic mammals and, because of this, many provide misinformation about chinchillas and chinchilla care. Most pet stores would have difficulty recognizing health concerns in chinchillas (other than the obvious ones), and most have difficulty recognising the difference between chinchilla genders at a young age. Most pet stores that I have seen carrying chinchillas keep them in improper environments and do not provide proper care.
Most ranchers (people who breed and raise chinchillas for the furring industry) are very knowledgable about chinchillas and chinchilla care, but most ranch-raised chinchilla receive little socialization while they are young and, therefore, do not have a good dispostion for a pet (typically they are skittish, nervous or irritable with people).
If you do purchase a chinchilla from a pet store or source other than a breeder, I encourage you to research chinchilla care on your own before hand to ensure that your new little fluffball will have a long, happy and healthy life.
How do you care for a chinchilla?
Providing the best care for a chinchilla will allow the animal to live a long, healthy, happy life. Caring for chinchillas means providing:
- A safe and comfortable environment
- A nutritious diet
- Adequate exercise
- Appropriate bathing and grooming
Environment
PENS
Chinchillas need plenty of space to move around. I sugguest somewhere between 8 - 12 cubic feet per chinchilla inhabiting a pen. Chinchillas love to be able to jump and climb, so a tall pen is preferable to a wide one. Wire, bars or caging should be of a thick enough gauge that a chinchilla will not cut its feet when trying to climb it (which they normally do); meaning average caging is perfectly fine, but chicken wire is not safe. Pens must NOT have plastic coated bars or trays, plastic components or contain plastic toys or bowls. Chinchillas will chew on plastic and eating large quantities of it can be fatal.
Chinchillas need plenty of space to move around. I sugguest somewhere between 8 - 12 cubic feet per chinchilla inhabiting a pen. Chinchillas love to be able to jump and climb, so a tall pen is preferable to a wide one. Wire, bars or caging should be of a thick enough gauge that a chinchilla will not cut its feet when trying to climb it (which they normally do); meaning average caging is perfectly fine, but chicken wire is not safe. Pens must NOT have plastic coated bars or trays, plastic components or contain plastic toys or bowls. Chinchillas will chew on plastic and eating large quantities of it can be fatal.
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